Saturday, April 14, 2007

Tabula rasa: for random thoughts...

46 comments:

Sawsee said...

re: Canuckles vs Dallas

I sheepishly did not stay up to watch all of the first game! I only made it to the third OT!

Anonymous said...

I missed the first period because of Lost. Lost is the ONLY thing that will get between me and a hockey game.

Otherwise, I lasted to the bitter end (2:30am here). Fell asleep very sad.....

But Friday the 13th was our lucky day! Actually, I think determination and hard work had more to do with it than luck.....

The AAC, where the games are played here, is a very busy place this time of the year. The Stars, The Mavs (both in the playoffs) and the Arena Football Team plus other events all share the building. In the event of OT, there could be some game delays because of the time it takes for floor and seating conversions between events.

Because of this, both the Canucks and the Stars are having to practice in other off-site facilities. As I type this, your team is practicing just a couple of miles from my house. I should go over there and heckle them....

Sawsee said...

Hi Lady! I think your team is outplaying the canucks and the canucks were lucky to win the first.

If you go and heckle the Canuckies, do wear your toque, and don't tell them what I said! I would be kicked out of the province.

Anonymous said...

Hey, Sawsee! I don't own a toque...

Besides, heckling sometimes gets people fired up to do better and I certainly wouldn't want that! And those red-headed twins kind of scare me....

Mostly, I see the Canucks as having a very good goalie and a few good players. The Stars, on the other hand, have a very good team. And a very deep team. Not so many big stars but lots of hard working team members.

Their biggest problem, as I see it, is that they sometimes fail to show up on time for the party, if you know what I mean.

Sawsee said...

Hi Lady! I am amazed at how fast Nagy is! I remember you told me it is: Mo DAN o or Mo don o??

Yes, the Canucks have the twins and a great goalie; Naslund is not who he was a few years ago. I think all the fans (and the team) are surprised at well they did in the season.

It should be an interesting series but I am not confident enough to accept a bet. Maybe you could persuade me to bet a quart of blueberries (or beets!) to a cup of texmex spice??

Anonymous said...

Sawsee, I'm not a gambler so your blueberries (yum) and beets (not so yum) are safe.

Mike Modano's name is pronounced Mo don o in the States (Mo dan o in Canada).

Nagy is kind of new, so I don't know how fast he is. I do know that they have trouble finding linemates who can keep up Modano's speed, though. Modano and Zubov are both in the 36 to 37-year-old range. They're like the Energizer Bunny.....

So, are the red-headed twins as scary as they look?

Sawsee said...

The first two years the twins were here, a lot of the fans felt it was a mistake getting them. Now, they are making a big difference, as they are excellent passers/playmakers, although sometimes they forget to shoot. When they do score, it typically is a great goal.

Our blueberries are looking good, with lots of flower buds. I'm hoping for a good year! The raspberries and boysenberry are flourishing too!

Greybishop said...

Don't you wish these blog templates gave you more than just a constantly downward moving layout?
Something like this "tabula rasa" article would be better served by a permanent home on the top line or sidebar, so it wouldn't eventually end up in the archive.
It was frustration with the oversimplified layout that led to the PH and all those extra blogs I have in the "links".
How's that for a random thought?

Sawsee said...

Hi Greybishop! Yes, I agree. A permanent position would make a lot of sense. I'm thinking I'll have to begin a new 'tabula rasa' every few weeks before it slides, off the front page, into the archives.

It has been a while since I've frequented the EW board, and now I can't find it!? No comments appear on the two previous re-caps. Is it still up?

I like your description of Claire, something like 'death in a sweater'.

I am amazed at your writing abilities, as I would be totally freaked out to do a re-cap, especially within a very limited timeframe! Kudos to you!

Anonymous said...

Hey, Sawsee! Are you ready for some Hockey tonight? I sure am!

The late start on a Sunday is because the Mavericks are playing this afternoon (hopefully, no OT for that game). Even so, it's a 6:30 start for you so you shouldn't miss much, if any, of your beauty sleep! As long as they don't need more than a couple of OT periods, that is....

So, it sounds like you've got a bumper crop of berries going on. Cool. Does that translate into more money in your pocket?

BTW, I was so excited to talk hockey with you that I forgot to thank you for setting up a special place for off-topic conversations.

Thanks, Sawsee!

Anonymous said...

Oh, the Basketball game is over on time (to the minute). The Mavs won.

Now they have 3.5 hours to clear out the fans, players and news crews; rip up the court; reconfigure the lower bowl seating; clean up the building; put up the boards, glass and netting; clean up the ice; set up the new news crews and get ready for the next round of fans and players! Pretty cool, huh!

Sawsee said...

Hi Lady! Yes, only a few more hours before the puck drops! I was wondering why it was such a late start. If the game goes as planned, I should be in bed by 10 pm. without any loss of beauty sleep! I need a lot of sleep!

I think we'll see a very intense game, especially the first period.

We used to have a NBA team too (The Grizzlies) and I was amazed to see a basketball court transformed into an ice arena within a few hours.

Rarely did they have a problem with soft ice.

re: Berries

We are still deciding whether to start planting in earnest to sell to the farmer's markets. So far, we eat berries morning, noon and night and then freeze the rest. We eat them every day and still have a few months supply in the freezer.

I follow organic practices and only use 'natural' fertilizers and pest control. I love it when they are ripe and I can pick them fresh for breakfast. We are creating homes for mason bees to ensure proper pollination. I'm not sure about your area, but many provinces and states in the Pacific Northwest are finding an alarming decrease in honey bees.

Here's to a great game!

Sawsee said...

Is Eric Lindros in the lineup?

I can't believe he is still playing after all the head injuries he has had.

Anonymous said...

Tabula Rasa is a great idea!! Woohoo!!! Hi Lady, GB and Sawsee!!!! GB your recaps are a lot of fun to read and I constantly check for them to be posted on Thursday!! Great job!
JDH

Anonymous said...

The Big E is still on the Roster but I doubt that he'll play any time soon. He's been out for a good part of the year with a groin injury. The stats say that he played 49 games this season but, for some reason, that sounds a little high to me.

I would be surprised if the Stars resign him. I think it's time for him to hang up his skates. He had the same (or at least similar) injury as Modano who missed 23 games this year. They are about the same age, but Mo did a much better job of healing and rehabbing.

When you get to a certain age, the injuries just aren't going to heal as fast. Surely he has banked his earnings and can afford to retire.....

Wow, berries morning, noon and night! How cool is that!

I'm not sure about the Texas bee population. Some of ours have been Africanized (bred with the Killer Bees) which might help them to survive better. The jury is still out on that, though. The jury is also still out on whether or not the cross breeding calms them (Killer Bees) down a bit. I'm not real sure about all of my facts, though. It's not something that I pay a lot of attention to. I did, however, see a bee flitting around my driveway the other day.....

Go Stars!

Talk to you later, Sawsee.

Sawsee said...

Lady-in-gray! Oh, Oh!

I can't say I am boastful as the first 2 periods the Stars were the stars. The third period the Canucks turrned up the heat but overall, Luongo kept them in it. Game 4 will be crazy, and I would expect the Stars to be pumped with killer bee extincts.

Mason bees do not sting, but are a lot more efficient than a typical honey bee.

Hey JDH!

Anonymous said...

I'm still in a state of shock. A third period meltdown is NOT typical of this year's team. If they don't start out strong, at least they usually get better as the game goes along.....

One local news guy is blaming it on Turco (I don't agree) and another is blaming it on Modano (I'm not so sure about that). When Modano gets 2-man and 3-man coverage, that creates a lot of open ice for the rest of the team.....

I'm not a happy camper at the moment.....

Sawsee said...

Lady! Hockey can be a very deflating sport to watch. I toned down my enthusiasm and expectations after the player's strike. I don't think Modano can be blamed!

Anonymous said...

Sawsee! Are you ready to do it all over again tonight?

There are storms in the area. I hope that doesn't affect tonight's game. The bad blood and accusations are creating enough of a storm as it is.....

Sawsee said...

Hi Lady!

Yes, the excitement is building! I hope the storm clouds don't roll in, but in the playoffs everybody gets quite intense.

Sawsee said...

Here is a very random thought/question.

Why did people begin to use the word 'pretty' in place of 'very' or 'quite', when describing things?

I don't know the answer but my brain gets stuck on miniscule and trivial points like this!

Greybishop said...

Sawsee -
I'm pretty sure I don't know the answer either.

Anonymous said...

....but I'm pretty sure that they've been doing it for a pretty longtime.....

Anonymous said...

(sigh) Just one more game to get their you-know-what together or it's off to the golf course!

Our local sports writers have backed off of Turco a bit, but they're still harping on Modano.

I have a bad feeling that they might be right. He has a (small) history of letting personal problems get in the way of his game focus. That's why he's stayed single for so long. He said he couldn't give 100% to both the game and a girlfriend/wife.

Well, he recently became engaged to Willa Ford. If you know anything at all about her, you've got to wonder "what is he thinking"!?! Or what is he thinking with......? From what I've seen, she's a spoiled immature brat!

Just as the playoffs were starting, it was announced that she is playing Anna Nicole Smith in a movie. I thought to myself, with tongue in cheek, "he must be SO proud of her"!

Sawsee said...

Hi Lady!

The third period was 'pretty' exciting! The goalies either get all the glory or all the blame. Maybe Turco should be considering giving up his fiance! I'm not sure if I know who Willa Ford is? I'll have to Google her.

Anonymous said...

Hey, Sawsee! Turco is married with a family. It's Mike Modano who is engaged to Willa Ford. She was on last season's Dancing with the Stars. She's also a singer.

Both teams are pretty hard to score against. The first two periods were a little on the boring side.

Willie Mitchell was not much help to the Stars in last year's playoffs. I guess that's why they traded him. NOW he decides to up his game!

Sawsee said...

Hi Lady! I don't recognize Willa; I guess my pop culture pulse is a bit weak! Poor Modano!

I've seen lots of players that are duds, only to blossom once they are placed onto another team. But then I've seen a lot of great players slide into mediocrity which is almost worse to witness.

The Vancouver crowd will go crazy in the opening tonight!

Anonymous said...

hmmmm. Surprise, surprise. The Big E has travelled with the team for this game.......

Sawsee said...

Lady! You must be happy today! Was it The Big E's presence that tipped the scales?

I know a lot of people up here, before last night's game, were basically saying that the series was "a done deal". But, seeing the Canucks flounder in numerous series before, I never feel that way.

Modano seemed to put a lot of pressure on the Canucks; I hope his star has been held higher today.

Anonymous said...

Yes, I'm a very happy camper today!

The Big E can certainly tip a regular scale but I'm not ready to give him credit for this win. The Stars have been decimated by injuries all year long and there has been NO QUIT in them. Ever. Not this year.

It's not that they are playing poor playoff hockey so much as both teams are really difficult to score against. With two shut-outs in the playoffs now, they are backing off of Turco. But not Modano. Yet.

Sawsee said...

The series are turning out to be a battle of the goalies.

Yes, the Big 'E' certainly can tip the scales!

Anonymous said...

Hey, Sawsee!

I've been out and about all day today. Just got home. I went to an Art Festival in Fort Worth. Fortunately, nothing screamed at me to take it home.....
I ALREADY have more Art and Jewelry than the law should allow!

It seems that metal sculptures are the "in" thing right now. Don't NEED any of those....

Well, here's to another battle of the goalies tonight. It's a shame that only one of them can advance.....

Talk to you tomorrow.

Anonymous said...

Woo Hoo! Go Stars!

I told you that Dallas has a bad habit of showing up late for the party. But when they get there, look out!

I always liked Mighty Mo (Modano) and Mini Mo (Morrow) on the same line. Not sure why they aren't paired up more often....

I sure hope Morrow's and Zubov's injuries aren't serious.....

Sawsee said...

Congrats Lady!

Turco is shining!

I missed most of the game so did not see what happened to Zubov or Morrow. Was Morrow'sinjury from a slash?

Amazing team spirit to come back like that! The Canuck's confidence looks like it may be shaken (or shattered! Oh no!)!

Nice to see that you collect art! What kind of things do you like?

Anonymous said...

I didn't see the Zubov injury but it was "upper body". Morrow's was an uncalled slash which looked kind of deliberate to me.....

Sorry you missed the game but your team got outplayed. Nuff said....

As to my art, where on earth do I begin. And it's not all paintings/photographs either.

I buy what "speaks" to me. I don't have any modern, abstract or impressionist pieces. Some oils, some water color, some charcoal and some photographic. Some originals (nobody famous yet), mostly limited edition prints and some just because I liked them. My subjects vary from Native American; wildlife; wildflowers; mountains; trees; and interesting courtyards, doors and gardens. I ran out of wall space years ago. Much of it is stacked up against a wall (5 different stacks here and there) and I shuffle them every once in a while.

Then there is my pottery collection, my Sabino collection and my fetish collection. I also have Navajo rugs, some sculptures (bronze, stone, antler/horn), some art glass, some drums (Native American), some stained glass and the list goes on and on.

I told my daughter NOT to have a garage sale when I die!

Sawsee said...

Hi Lady! It took many years of Canuck disappointment for me to lose my fervor (fervour) for them.

I always liked the idea of having the NHL turning all their rinks into Olympic-size; this increases the chances for skilled players and decreases the chances for the goons. Slashing is not acceptable.

I am very impressed with your interest in art & collectibles! I love all kinds of art, sculpture, glass and weavings. We spent a week in Santa Fe and were overwhelmed with the amount (and cost!) of art that is in that town. I love all the Navajo art too!

My downfall is that I also love books and magazines; needless to say most are packed in boxes! I now resist buying any book and try to read it through the library.

Anonymous said...

Santa Fe is beautiful but not the best place to shop. If I do buy anything there, it's not on Canyon Road or near the Square. I like Taos better, but it's almost as expensive. A lot of my "interesting door, window and courtyard" art are of actual places in Santa Fe.

Anyway, I shop at out-of-the-way places, trading posts (NOT Hubble) and pawn shops. In the actual pueblo or on the "reservation" is good, too. Mostly I buy from the people who do the Indian Show and Pow Wow circuits, and the art shows. After years and years, we've gotten to know each other. You have to know your tribes, though, because they all do knock-offs of each other. A fetish is a traditional Zuni item. A Kachina doll is a traditional Hopi item. A "genuine Navajo Kachina Doll" may be cheaper but it isn't "authentic".

I adore the Navajo people and their art/work. If you can get them to talk, they have a wonderful sense of humor. Actually, almost all of the tribes are nice, fun loving people. The only Native American who ever made me uncomfortable was an Apache.

Regarding book collections, I'm thinking about leaving my small library of unread books to GB in my will. I have a bad habit of buying interesting (to me, anyway) books and never (or partially) reading them. I'd give them to him now but I still have hope of someday .....

Anonymous said...

Oh, and speaking of changes in the NHL, what genius decided that Dallas should be in the Pacific Division?!? We are two time zones away from the Pacific Ocean! With the new rule that division teams have to play each other 8 times, the schedule is a killer!

The Eastern Conference has it easy but the Western conference actually involves 4 time zones because two of the West teams are really in the Eastern zone (Columbus and Nashville). I think that they should either get rid of the 8 games rule or reshuffle the divisions to Central, Mountain and Pacific. What do you think?

Sawsee said...

Absolutely! What a great idea!

It would properly place Detroit and Chicago, who currently reside in the Western division.

Where do we sign up for the new rules?

When I first started watching hockey--only Jacque Plante wore a mask--goalies were allowed to skate anywhere. One of the Canucks first goalies used to rush out close to centre ice, making for some very entertaining moments.

Anonymous said...

My first exposure to hockey came when Gordie Howe and kids were playing for the old Houston Aeros back in the late 70's. It was "love at first sight" for me. Unfortunately, the game was not gathering a fan base in Texas at that time, so the team headed back north.

hmmmm. I guess Turco learned that move from Plante....

Anonymous said...

Hey, Sawsee! Congrats on the win. Good luck in the next round.

Now, I'm going to go cry myself to sleep.....

Sawsee said...

Hi Lady! Well I can't say that "the better team won" as Dallas could have easily won. So much of this game is about 1" differences, a few lousy penalties, or bad ref calls.

I think canucks, kind of, 'stole' this win and so will not be too surprised if they don't get very far. Unfortunately, the team rests totally on the Sedins and Luongo and if they are not spectuacular the team does not do very well. I think Dallas has a much more rounded team with a lot more depth, plus they (you) have Turco.

I actually got a signature from Gordie Howe when I was very young. He was sitting with his 2 boys, who were years away from playing hockey. I forgot about the Houston team! Was that when the WHL(?) split from the NHL? I believe that was in the 70's?

Anonymous said...

Hi, Sawsee! To say I am crushed is an understatement. Imagine how Turco must feel......

I missed the entire first period because I didn't realize that it was an early start. Bummer. I worry about my brain sometimes.

Anyway, I haven't been able to get to the point where I want to read the paper yet, so I don't know what is being said. It looked to me like Zubov was sorely missed, though. And the refs should be fired for some of those calls. When is a hook a hook if it doesn't touch anybody......?!?

In any case, my team wasn't at its best in the second and third, and it cost them!

I don't know which league the old Houston Aeros were in. When you google it, keep in mind that there is now a new Houston Aeros team.

Wow! A Gordie Howe autograph! How cool is that?

Sawsee said...

Sorry Lady-in-Grey! I've felt crushed for 10 years with the Canucks so I understand your pain!

Yes, there were some awful bad penalty calls and I felt slightly embarressed when Linden did the dive. That happens all the time in soccer and I find it spoils the game.

I could send some early garlic or chives, and a few small kale leaves as a 'pick-me-up' for you?

One of my fave hockey moments was watching Bobby Orr kill penalties. Did you ever see him play?

Sawsee said...

Ooops! I just called you 'Lady-in-grey' not Lady-in-gray'! Sorry!

Our Canadian Football league play for the coveted 'Grey' cup, so that may be where I got the 'grey' from...

Anonymous said...

Aw, gee, Sawsee! Your pick-me-up offer is sweet but I doubt that the produce would stand up to "the transit", if you know what I mean.

I haven't been able to read the Sports Pages yet, just quietly putting them aside to read later.....

Have you caught any of the entertainment news about the Anna Nicole movie? That's Willa Ford! Disgusting! Surely Mighty Mo will call off the wedding now! Please!